Dedicated to the People of Texas and Louisiana~

My heart aches for all of the damage that Tropical Storm Harvey has placed upon the people of Texas, Louisiana and beyond.  

Praying that the misplaced might feel safety and love until they can return to their homes, and their lives and normalcy...

Such great tragedy~

This week I am including 12 images/mosaics that I had published the month of August to also use this first week in September plus 38 new ones.  

Among the new ones I am thinking that those who view this post will see something that they might not have never seen before.  It was shared this past week on Facebook and was a real hit.  
You will need to scroll down to find it and then tell me what you thought...have you ever seen such before ;)

Remember to double click on the first image, to view a larger slideshow presentation after                                                                you have read the narratives~

I am joining in the fun with Eileen at:

http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/

Saturday's Critter

Anni at:

http://id-rather-b-birdin.blogspot.com/ 

I'd Rather Be Birdin'

 Linking to I'd Rather B Birdin'

    

Maggie's  MOSAIC MONDAY

                                              https://normandylife.blogspot.com/

& 

Stewart for:

http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/

Wild Bird Wednesday

The Black Swallowtails above and the young Groundhogs below were some of my favorites for this month ending of August.  

BTW, for those who may be wondering... After being missing in action for exactly one month and one day...two weeks ago Saturday these two rascals appeared and I was able to feed them their favorite treats...carrots once again, but I have no new photographs.

 All other Groundhogs remain missing in action, including the adult pair~

The final five favorites used from past August Post are of these cuties!

I love this one of the Chipmunk looking up to the face (which I was too close to get in my shot) of the Groundhog and probably wondering what it needed to do to get a nibble~

The Mississippi Kites were such a special gift for me, being able to visit the nest site, and get to know them a little bit.  

The birds are gorgeous and they LOVE insects, a Win for them and a Win for me, because I do not like insects.

In these images the adult has brought both young ones a nice meal of a large insect~

Several weeks ago I found this darling little female kitten and was able to easily catch her and feed her while trying to find the owners.  It was so friendly and sweet but no one ever claimed her.  I had to give her to the "No Kill" Animal Control here in our county.  She will get to go to the Humane Society, also "No Kill" soon where her chances of being adopted will be much greater~

The other day while standing in my garden, the Hummingbirds were warring over feeding territory when the songbirds came to their feeder nearby.  

This first very young female Cardinal was being chased by the Hummers and flew right into the window.  I can usually hold a bird in the cups of my hands and then release them several minutes later.  I would end up holding this sweet bird for an hour.  She still could not fly, but fluttered her wings.  She began to hop higher and higher until I would no longer be able to reach her if for some reason she would not be able to fly.  For a total of 3  1/2 hours I watched her.  She was in the top of a Cedar tree when I came in the house for a few minutes.  Once back outside, I could see a richly red coloured male Cardinal up in the tree with her.  He fed her three times... had to be her daddy.  After she finished the third food delivery, the male flew and she followed him.  I was so happy that she would be OK~

My right knee is really very bad again and I am struggling as to what I am going to do about it...more than likely I am looking at more surgery.  There will once again be no vacation journey for me this year which truly is very sad for me, as I love to travel and this is the third year straight that we are no going to trek out.  

One morning I decided that I was going to the Kentucky State Fair and take my grand-daughter.  As it turned out she was sick and could not go.  I went alone.  It is a huge fairgrounds with so much to see and do.  I decided to walk from the back parking lot and walk to the front, take photos of the Midway before the families began to arrive for a day of fun.  I went past the food shops, but never spent a penny.  If I had of, it would have been for an Elephant Ear...my favorite fair food!

I walked into the South Wing where the arts were hung and already ribbons had been awarded.  These were my favorites pieces~

The Kentucky State Fair is host of the World's Championship Horse Show, the world's richest and most prestigious horse show.

The show has over 1900 horses and ponies. No other breed, or show has that many horse to compete under one roof once a year!

The top award in the breed industry is the American Saddlebred "Triple Crown": winning the five-gaited championships at the Lexington Junior League Horse Show, the Kentucky State Fair World's Championship Horse Show, and American Royal horse show; a feat that has only been accomplished by six horses." 

When the announcer would say "Rack on" I am on the edge of my seat in years past, for there is something so amazing when they are in this gait all at the same time, the majestic beauty is something that everyone should get to observe once in their lifetime.

For my time there was in the daytime, I was able to sit for a couple of hours and just enjoy them practicing with these gorgeous creatures. 

Next year I am hoping to get to attend the Celebration of this wonderful event~

Then this past Saturday I got to attend the quarter horse show in Shelbyville, as my next door neighbor was going to be one of the competitors.  She took a third in one class of six participants, and a second out of 12 in the other class.  Way to go Megan.  Her friend Hannah also rode and took away a ribbon~

Red-tailed Hawk thought it was well hidden from me, but I saw it~

A Luna Moth on it's last wings...and it was in the wrong spot and could easily be taken and so I moved it as I watered the grass so I would not soak it.  I left it as it was in the last image of this mosaic~

Another Red-Tailed Hawk seen on my back road travels~

A new Burro on the block, or at least in the near by fields beyond our town~

Joe Pye Weed~

The last siting of any of the Mississippi Kites was a week ago Sunday.  The adults and the young have begun to make their way away from the Gilman Avenue location where they came to nest for the past 6 years.  I am so thankful to have had the opportunity of seeing them and photographing them.  The very early morning light created such a glow on them, but I didn't mind, I was just in awe of their beauty.

A Blue Jay was testing the Kite~

Eastern Tailed Blue Butterfly at Fox Hollow Farm~

In thinking that I may have to have more surgery soon and be laid up for a bit, I am trying to complete certain things that I have begun.  This is still on the "Raw" side, but I feel somewhat better about it.  This is the very back corner of our two and a half acres and it was WILD.  I have tried to shape it up a bit, planted grass seed and made wider paths.  It took nearly three weeks, a few hours a day and I feel good about it to this point and when I feel better later, I shall tackle it further.  

What kinds of things have you been up to?  

For me it was a busy two weeks, of DR appointments as well as doing some fun things as I found the time~

Above where I have been working and below, where it leads to and what it should look a bit like once it takes shape~

A Summer for Wildlife and a Farewell to a Few~

Happy mid-August to everyone.  

Here is hoping that the weather is behaving in your part of the world and in your favor.  We have had some nice days with upper 80's and even a few with a cool breeze, but we so need the rain.  I have to drag out my double connected 150' hoses and water almost every morning and evening.  Would you believe that my fenced in back dog yard has only been mowed one time all season... I had a nice new lawn finally growing in the shade.  Before the big "Family Day" event in mid June I decided it was tall enough and beautiful and it needed just a quick cut.  My blade must have been too low as ever since then I am trying to turn it all green again...huge sigh.  

I decided to update everyone on the sweet baby Groundhogs and the fawns of the White-tailed Deer in this post.  Not everything turn out rosy, or the way mankind would desire nature, but it is what it is and we make do and accept.  

The image above is one that I shall forever cherish in my memory...the wee little Chipmunk looking up at the baby Groundhog and wondering if it might have a nibble of the carrot it was eating.  

Well the Chipmunks and Squirrels got plenty of the spoils that my friend Linda and I fed to the 6 baby Groundhogs and their mother from early April until the last two left the den two weeks ago.

Their favorites were yams, carrots and apples in that order, along with lettuces and in the end tomatoes and even a few raspberries.

Six young would count down to 4 by early June. 

Two more would leave together with their mother as she tried so very hard to help keep them safe and get them to where they could do what they do.  She never returned as of a month ago now either.  The final two young ones, the runt and it's buddy stayed until two weeks ago.  My last sighting of any of them, was my favorite, the runt some few acres away from it's den and looking so beautiful, but I had to bid it farewell to whatever would happen, even if she lived for a day in the wild, would be better than to have been caged.

The Red Foxes arrived after the Groundhogs and it was a calamity waiting to happen and all that we could do is try and get them healthy and strong to try and make it on their own, even for a day.  

Red Foxes can easily take an adult Groundhog and so the young ones really had no real fair chance as they went out into freedom, but there was nothing more that we could do, but allow them exactly that...it was time.  

The greatest gift from them would be next Spring to see one of them possibly even with young ones of their own and to know that even one made it.  
A huge lump forms in my throat still when I think upon them~

Remember to double click on the first image, to view a larger slideshow presentation after                                                                you have read the narratives~

I am joining in the fun with Eileen at:

http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/

Saturday's Critter

Anni at:

http://id-rather-b-birdin.blogspot.com/ 

I'd Rather Be Birdin'

 Linking to I'd Rather B Birdin'

    

Maggie's  MOSAIC MONDAY

                                              https://normandylife.blogspot.com/

& 

Stewart for:

http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/

Wild Bird Wednesday

They tasted their first yellow tomato and raspberry on this morning just three weeks ago~

The little Chipmunk trying to make it's way to the food line~

Darling image of one of the young ones, making it's way back to it's makeshift den and food awaiting it.  They would venture out and across the lane, using culverts and even sheds and decks for protection from the Foxes and other prey~

Linda called this huge pile of wood their playground.  From under her deck where they had lived with their mother in a den they would gain access to freedom, using the protect of these large logs.

Above is the last time that I saw the adult female with two young ones.  She has been missing for several days with the first two and then came back for number three and four, leaving the last two alone.  I love how the one young one is snuggling with her.  She was a great mother and she tried so hard~

The last two remained until two weeks ago.  They had to gain their freedom and they took their leave very quietly and without even a goodbye~

 They would spend long hours looking out over the woods and lawn, trying to figure out their best safety route...it had to have been brutal for them without their mother to guide them~

The one above with the white on his nose would come really close to me, and run to me like a dog would.  He was adorable!

The one above and on the right below was my most favorite, the little female runt...I will miss her for a very long time, for she was something quite special~

Three little Groundhogs ;)

Once in a while number three and, or four would return for food, but they had already known freedom and they would not stay long~

These were taken using my cell phone one afternoon.  She had made it to my next door neighbor's shed and needed nourishment~

A blurry image of a Chipmunk running with a carrot ;)

One of the Red Foxes taken in the distance of my backyard.  As of Thursday, they are still hunting our neighborhood...I imagine they are here to stay with all of the recent road changes near us...nature has shifted and it will never go back to the way it was~

Yikes my first ever I do believe of Purple Martins, now where was I when I took these...

My first ever also juvenile Dickcissle, a beautiful slender bird~

We have only had Red-winged Blackbirds visit a couple of times, usually males and in the Winter.  I was quite surprised to get the ID from my friend Jennifer Snyder ( Jennifer also told me the firm ID for the Dickcissle as well as gave me the good to go on my suspect of a Summer Tanager...thank you Jennifer) who said this was a female Red-winged Blackbird. When I have seen them out in open fields, they were always two toned brown and so this bird threw me for a loop~

Summer Tanager~

The House Wrens have fledged and oh so darling~

An Eastern Phoebe collecting insects from the faces of the White-tailed Deer~

I am calling her Manny, for she seeks many meals often from both myself and next door neighbor Sue~

We have at least two pairs of twins in our area~

This yearling usually comes with her mom and another family member.  She has always been quite friendly like Manny. Her scar is disctintive~

Manny~

Sometimes Moms have to put their children in order and here the yearling gets a scold from her Mom~

Part of the big Winter herd has returned and that makes so far as many as 9 that are being fed, and soon more young ones will show up, and or be born this month and then add in the bucks, oh my!

If a doe is not caught and bred with in November, they may be caught in January.  Thus said if the young are not born in June, they arrive in August~

Like Bill and I, Sue has been feeding the Deer for many years.  I feed usually in the Winter and during the heavy fawn season and Sue feeds all year long~

Sue recently found out that Deer enjoy white bread and she has one doe in particular that has really enjoyed the handout.  Last evening she ate five slices of bread that Sue offered her~

I really like this image and one of these fawns may actually be one of the young that was born in Suzanne's front yard a couple of months ago.  I featured it at the time in previous posting~

Fawns are weaned at 8 weeks and so many of the ones we have are now eating the same things the adults eat~

I am not certain of the species of this very fragile, last day of life moth. I believe that it was in the Giant Silk Moth family, possibly even a Polyphemus Moth, or maybe a Promethea... Either way, it was still beautiful even with beaten and torn wings this late in it's life cycle.

BTW the bright blue in this image...I set it on a plant and then placed the plant into a blue Lowe's bucket, hoping to quiet the beauty as it was in real bad shape when I found it a week ago today~